Today, March 8, 2025, the world pauses—at least partially—because, for a single day, we remember the existence of WOMEN.
For a fleeting moment, the other half of humanity (where this concept even exists) suddenly recalls the presence of a mother, a lover, a wife, a sister, a daughter. And for those brief moments, warmth finds its way into hearts, extending—often as an act of grand generosity—even toward female colleagues, neighbors, acquaintances, and friends.
With the same generosity, a ceasefire is declared. A pause in all wars—wars for power, resources, influence, image, money.
Today, we don’t have to cook, clean, or labor through the invisible work that keeps the world turning. Today, we are "allowed" to be late, to sleep in, to withdraw our advice, care, encouragement, expertise, and emotional labor that usually keep families, offices, companies, institutions—even countries—functioning.
Today, we are granted “time off” or “an early leave at 2:00 PM.”
Today, we receive flowers and gifts. Sometimes bonuses or WhatsApp messages.
Today, we are generously given space to exist in their universe.
Tomorrow?
In the best-case scenario, they remember it's “Father’s Day, maybe?” and that the men in our lives don’t have an internationally recognized day.
In the worst case, the war machine roars back to life.
And in most cases, everything simply returns to "normal."
This is not a feminist manifesto. It is not a tragedy.
It is reality, stripped of its sugarcoating and politically correct rhetoric.
What happens after March 8?
Many of us return to our "places and roles." If we are content with these roles—largely assigned by culture, tradition, and social norms—then in the “developed world,” we can call it our “free choice.” We may even enjoy a “peaceful” or “comfortable” life, receiving small, medium, or extravagant gestures of attention and favor, depending on the power or financial status of the men in our lives.
But there is another group of women—a large one—who are not content with their “place.” For various reasons: because they want more, because they feel they can do more, because they know more, or simply because they wish to contribute differently.
And this is where the real conflict begins.
Because the only way for these women to make a greater impact—to step beyond the predefined boundaries—is to adopt the traits, the energy, the persona of masculinity. The kind of masculinity that has historically dominated. I don’t even know the perfect term for it, but you understand what I mean.
And so, many of us, women in this category, undergo an internal transformation—a shift pushed by the external context toward battle mode, toward power in its harshest: ruthless ambition, cutthroat competition, stepping on others to climb higher, and sometimes, brutal cynicism. Any other way to go beyond *your place* is meant to painflully fail. In most of the cases.
Many of us start down this path with a purpose: to bring more care, empathy, peace, protection, and well-being into the world. Because from where we stand, the world hurts.
But along the way, many of us get lost in the battle. Or worse—we become the battle itself. Worn down by too many wounds, too much war, too many years spent running on adrenaline. (Doctors will understand! 😊) And in the process, we end up wounding each other as women, because—after all—"this is the game in a man’s world." Survival of the fittest.
This is not something that we want.
In the past decade, in the so-called "developed world," the game has remained largely unchanged. Some men have simply learned the “right language.” They speak passionately about women’s rights. They praise female leadership. They celebrate women—verbally.
And yet, behind the scenes, they activate control mechanisms, manipulation tactics, and intimidation techniques so subtle and insidious that they do not confront you directly. Instead, they make you give up. They make you believe you are not good enough, that you have no real worth.
And those men—those are the most dangerous. Because they don’t just block your path; they get inside your mind. They chip away at your self-worth, at your very identity. Until, one day, you simply walk away. You go back to your “place.”
In Romania, we mostly deal with the first type—the less sophisticated kind. The kind that is openly painful but, at the very least, visible.
But in any form of this struggle, the woman who refuses to stay in her assigned place will pay a price for stepping into a masculine world.
Most often, that price is her health, her personal life. Or both.
Many women accept this cost. And many achieve extraordinary things—more often than not, for the greater good of all people. Others get trapped in the endless war for power.
So, my question is:
Is this war worth it?
Not just for women—but for us, as a global humanity?
And one more question for reflection:
What would the world of 2025 look like—this world we are living in now—if the feminine identity, if WOMEN, had shaped the foundation of our societies?
Would we still be standing on the edge of World War III?
P.S. This text is a generalization, and I fully acknowledge the many exceptions among men.
To those men—who have risen above insecurity and toxic masculinity—we need you. We need you to help build a new world.
A world without war.
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